Wait wasn't as bad as we were quoted- probably waited about an hour, a little over for a party of…read more4. We were able to sight see the grounds while we waited. Made the time go by much faster.

We brought our youth group and had a great time, shout out to Michelle who helped us and helped us…read morehave a great experience!

My parents were reminiscing about when they were middle school aged and came here for field trips…read more I was surprised to find out that Silver Springs State Park and the glass bottom boat tours have been around for that long! It was about a 1.5 hour ride from Orlando. Woke up real early on a Saturday (on honestly one of the coldest days of the year) to arrive at the park around 8am. I highly suggest purchasing glass bottom boat tour tickets online about a week in advance atleast since time slots fill up! We purchased the 1.5 hour tour on the boats. Our tour guide was incredible and shared so much knowledge and facts about the wildlife and park. I got to see tons of manatees! Plus getting to see gators, turtles, birds, and even monkeys! The glass bottom gives such a cool perspective on viewing the wildlife and plants underwater. Aside from the tour, we walked several trails to enjoy the great outdoors. Also, we had coffee in the morning when we first got here and lunch after the tour. The food was pretty good and filling. At the gift shop I made sure to leave with a magnet and Christmas ornament to remember such a great day here.

What a breathtaking location! From the parking lot, it doesn't look like much. They are redoing the…read moreentrance sign, and from the outside, it seems like the place might be pretty rundown. However, once you walk through, you are quickly transported. The entrance to the park is only two dollars per person, and honestly, in my opinion, they could charge just a little bit more. The glass-bottom boat tours run faster than you might expect, so if you have the time (which we didn't during our visit), opt for the longer boat ride; it doesn't cost much more. They also have little shops to explore and plenty of outdoor seating so you can take in the beautiful surroundings. If you're a water lover, make sure to plan ahead and reserve a crystal-clear kayak or paddleboard to enjoy the water--it'll be worth every penny. The only hiccup in our plan was that we booked everything on the day of our visit, so we ended up with a shorter tour on the glass-bottom boats and got locked into the last kayaking time slot. The woman at the reservation desk for the kayaks was not very pleasant. She told us that despite showing a 5 o'clock slot, they were no longer taking reservations. I showed her the option on my phone, but she still refused to let us sign waivers. Luckily, we found the manager in charge of the rental hut, who advised that we could still make our reservation online. I showed him on my phone, and although we'd have to pay full price and probably have less than an hour, that was perfectly fine with us since we were in the last slot. The lake was practically empty, so we had the entire waterway to ourselves--so beautiful and peaceful. Honestly, it felt like we were in another country, surrounded by nature. If you don't have the chance to kayak, there's also a walking path where you can see monkeys left behind from one of the movies that was filmed on location. We walked part of the path, and it was just as beautiful. Any chance my kids and I get to be outside in nature, we gravitate towards it, putting away our phones to enjoy everything around us. What a great way to spend your day and your vacation!

ZERO STARS: Quaint place, but new owner has the rudest maintenance manager that seems to run the…read moreplace and his girlfriend, whom is general manager, (we found out about this after talking to people) have absolutely no skills in customer service. Treat paying customers with no kindness or respect. They genuinely would rather have no customers, which I would think the owner would dislike. The rooms did have a mold and mildew smell. The pool wasn't cleaned. The stairs were slippery from algae. When we stayed here five years ago it was the most pleasant place to stay. Definitely not worth the money or hassle now. Owner APRIL, you are wondering when we booked?? So pathetic, your staff should now, or are their so many people that are unhappy with your rude maintenance manager & his girlfriend?

great quite spot, get the pontoon boat and head over to blue springs. relax on the river and enjoy…read moreyourself. highly recommended.

I contacted them and asked about availability for a particular weekend for a birthday get away…read more They said they had availability, sent me additional informational and we had several communications. I contacted them to pay and they asked me to fill in a form which included asking who I was traveling with. I listed my husband, David. Surprisingly, I then got an email saying that weekend was booked out. Seems suspicious to me.

My wife and I joined my sister and her husband for a weekend houseboating adventure. My sister had…read morebeen before, but this was a first time for us. To say only that "we had a great time" would be an understatement! This is a well-run operation using great boats in an absolutely beautiful part of natural Florida. The houseboats are small (you did see that the business is named "Tiny Houseboats," right?), but they make up for that in their ability to get into places on the St. Johns River that few other boats would dare to go. The owners - Rick and Carrie - have the vessels well-maintained and perfectly-equipped to ensure a wonderful river adventure. They are easy to pilot, and use next to no gas at all. We plan to make this an annual trip, and I highly recommend Tiny Houseboat Adventures for great fun and relaxation on the St. Johns River!

This company is absolutely fantastic. Really nice owners and captains. They also conveniently keep…read moreboats at two separate locations in both Saint Augustine and Crescent Beach. I'm local, and I will absolutely be renting from them again and again.

Full disclosure- I won a $100 gift certificate to use towards a rental on Instagram thanks to…read moreGone2Sea and Yelp a few months back. Got that out of the way- booking is easy to do online and you can also call to book. The have a very thorough FAQ list online to explain everything and I reviewed it and made notes. You meet at a public boat launch at your designated time and they hustle to get that boat in the water for you and get you on your way. My hubby had captained pontoons before and took the helm responsibilities. Our rental guy gave him tips about where to go and navigating the inter-coastal waters- you can get details on sandbars to play at, places to stop to eat and more! We departed at 10:30am and were back to make the return 4 hours later. The boat rode wonderfully- no problems there. It was a perfect boating day too- I would rent with them again!

We rented a pontoon boat for the day. Mark is very friendly while also being very professional and…read moreforthright in dealing with his customers. We had a great day on the river. Our 5 year old granddaughter was with us and never got bored. We saw a number of alligators on the banks, and numerous herons and other wildlife. This trip was worth every penny!! Memories made! Thanks, Mark'

Absolutely the best option if you're looking to rent a boat for the day. Mark was easy to work with…read moreand very accommodating. The boats are clean and the marina is in a great spot. Definitely recommend to anyone looking to spend a day on the river.

Any day on the water is a good day. Got some good tips from deckhand as well as a nice clean boat …read more Enjoyed the day hope to be back soon.

Smartest thing we have ever done joining Freedom Boat Club. We enjoy boating on lakes when we are…read morehere in central Florida in the winter and early spring. Our membership entitles us to the use of any of their boats on the Harris Chain of Lakes for the cost of the gas. We have never had trouble reserving a boat and the dock masters at all locations are very helpful,friendly and knowledgeable. We enjoy all the advantages of boating without the hassle and expense of ownership.

Besides a private boat, there is no better way to explore the beautiful lakes and canals of Winter…read morePark! Here is what you need to know: - Time Investment: One Hour (In my opinion, the perfect amount of time) - Investment: $20 for adults, $10 for children. Truly a deal and enjoyable for all ages. - What you will see/learn: If you like history, nature, or just getting a really good tan you will not be disappointed. The true highlight was getting all the tea about the beautiful houses that line the canal and their owners. - Tips: Bring water, sunscreen, and a good hat. If you are hard of hearing, sit near the front. There is a bathroom right before you purchase the tickets and a small covered seated area if you come early. The ride is very gentle and my four year old took a nice little nap as soon as the motor started running. It can get really hot so I recommend booking an early or late afternoon tour if you are sensitive to the sun. We all had lots of fun.

We had the pure pleasure of taking this boat tour in Winter Park while visiting our daughter in…read moreOrlando. We so enjoyed it! The ride between lakes was relaxing and so informative. Our guide knew so much of the history of the area. Would highly recommend!

We booked a tour for six of us online. A couple days prior, I got a call saying there weren't…read moreenough people booked on that tour for them to actually take the boat out. They offered to rebook us on another day and time of our choosing. Well, I happened to be in the car when they called so accessing my schedule while I was on the phone, was not an easy task. The lady on the phone seemed SUPER annoyed with me the entire conversation. TWICE she asked if I would like to call her back. I'm sorry- are you THAT busy that you can't wait for two seconds while I pull up my calendar?!! I was so irritated by this lady's rude behavior that I almost said forget it. Refund us. We don't want to support you. You are being rude. However, my in laws were coming from out of town and I wanted them to experience the springs and the manatees. I had an entire week of activities planned for us so I just needed a second to check my calendar. If the lady who called was SOOOO BUSY, then why did she choose that time to call me? I will not get over this. Her customer service got the job done and we rescheduled but I will not forget how rude she was. On the day of our tour, we checked in at the little shack on the dock. Our tour guide was super funny! He was narrating our tour and making jokes. He was interacting with everyone on the boat. It was a cold day but we were able to see one large sunbathing gator and some hawks and other birds. The manatees were best seen from the shoreline walkway. We left a large tip for the tour guide and thanked him. He probably has no idea that the lady in the office is a real jerk.

Kudos to Blue Spring Adventures because the tour went out even though there were only three of us…read moreon the boat. The captain was an excellent critter spotter and very informative providing great information about the animals and the environment. We are avid birders and still managed to learn a few things from her. Despite the chilly temps in addition to a wide variety of birds we also saw several gators (large & small) and turtles. The trip was fun and educational. We would definitely do it again.

They were excellent to communicate with. We booked on short notice. Our Captain Brian was the best…read more This is a great company. They are knowledgeable of the area, professional and friendly. He made our trip so enjoyable and a great value for the price

Small business family owned. Very friendly great customer service! We rented a pontoon Brian and…read moreCayden were super knowledgeable and attentive . The boat is new, provided everything needed. Beautiful location! We will be back!